Victrola vs Crosley, which one is better? In most of the Victrola record player models, we found Victrola players to have more functions and features. They differ in terms of features but have more similarities in speaker types and their performance.
Although the record players come with tinny built-in speakers, they will still be room-filling if you are not to judge. Another advantage is most Victrola and Crosley record players have RCA output designed to connect external speakers.
Some common functions of these record players are: Bluetooth, CD player, Turntable. Certain models support Cassette player which acts as an advantage. And you will get all these under $150 so there is no chance for you to complain about the sound quality.
Comparing Victrola vs Crosley, many Victrola players support USB both for playing music along with recording in computer and PC. Victrola costs slightly less than the Crosley models in most cases.
Overview of Victrola and Crosley Record player
Before, model by model comparison I present you a short overview of some models from Victrola and Crosley.
Best Entry-Level Record Player: Victrola VSC-550BT
The Victrola VSC-550BT is quite affordable record player. With great aesthetics, the sturdiness is decent. The stylus weight is designed to be 5g which is ideal and it makes sure the vinyl records are not damaged. The auto-stop feature along with Bluetooth makes it the best entry-level record player.
Best Multi-Functional Record player: Victrola Navigator 8-in-1 VTA-600B-MAH Record Player.
This record player supports all major functions along with cassette player, USB port, USB recording. The sound is quite good and the price is very affordable.
Best Overall: Crosley CR8017A-BK Voyager Vintage
This Crosley model has ceramic cartridge style. The player is well-built and the sound can get quite loud. The performance and functions make it one of the best overall record player to use every now and then.
How I Rated the Turntable of Victrola and Crosley:
Victrola came into the industry way before Crosley. We have selected some the best record players from each brand based on the following category.
Modern Crosley C-series like the Cruiser is made to target newbies and the T-series is for average-budget users.
Turntable:
The primary reason to buy a record player is to listen to LPs. Not all turntables are made in the same way. They are also susceptible to any kind of vibrations. The needle and stylus are delicate parts which should be handled with care.
Victrola vs Crosley record players, both manufactures decent turntables but certain Crosley turntables also come with legs. Sitting on four legs might not be ideal for turntables to work. If it faces any wear or tear, replacement needle for Victrola record player or Crosley is widely available in the market.
Functions
Different record players support different functions. Bluetooth, CD player are most common to be included along with turntables.
Also most record players have a RCA and headphone jack.
Portability
Records players follow a common vintage look. Most have a box shape or a suitcase shape. Some are very light weight and the suitcase shape comes with a handle which makes it highly portable.
Versatility
This means whether the record player supports such speakers that makes it easy to use. some models support auto-stop feature. While you can connect most of the record player with additional speakers, others might not support an RCA output. Versatility also includes remote control which make it quite easier to control.
Victrola vs Crosley Portable Record Player
Victrola Vintage VSC-550BT-BK Record Player with Built-in Speakers vs Crosley CR8017A-BK
| Victrola VSC-550BT-BK | Crosley CR8017A-BK | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Suitcase type | Suitcase type |
| Portable | Yes, with handle | Yes, with handle |
| Bluetooth | yes | yes |
| Output | RCA, Aux in, Headphone jack | RCA, Headphone jack |
| Dimension | 13.9" x 10.1" x 5". | 14.96" W x 11.93" D x 5.90" H |
| Price | Check the latest price on amazon | Check the latest price on amazon |
Product uniqueness:
Victrola and Crosley record players with built-in speakers are very reasonably priced. If you are just starting your journey into vinyl-world or turntables, these are best for you.
Which one sounds better?
Since the primary reason to buy a record player is how well it sounds, let’s see the performance of these models. The Victrola and Crosley record player Voyager review will help you decide. Victrola Bluetooth suitcase record player with 3-speed turntable sound decent and full but it is not excellent.
However, this is just what we expected to get at this price range. You will be the ultimate winner with this one because with a RCA to mini jack cable, you can connect it to external speakers. You can also connect additional speakers to Crosley, but with built-in speakers, they are designed to listen through record player only.
Again, the Crosley sound quality is average but not outstanding. These models are some of the best vintage record players that are simply worth the money. These are ideal for you if you want a retro-looking vintage record player which are best for casual listening.
Users often look at average performance along with outstanding retro-looking design in record players. Crosley record player with stands are available if you want a make the record player a dedicated furniture.
Feature Analysis:
They support 3-speeds (33 1/3, 45, 78 RPM) and are both belt driven turntable. Other similarities are, both have built-in Bluetooth, headphone jack and RCA outputs. The Crosley record player has adjustable pitch control.
It is a suitcase design with a handle that has vintage vibes. The available colors are black, amethyst, dune, sage, and washed blue. The Victrola record player and holder makes it portable just like Crosley. A Crosley record player stand with vinyl storage will be another beautiful piece of furniture.
It has similar vintage look and shape. The Victrola VSC-550BT-BK maintains the standard weight of the stylus, which is 5 grams. It has a leather surface with metal corners. It can also eliminate internal shock in case the player experience any wear or tear.
One advantage of Victrola is that, it has auto-stop feature and you can get all these in half price of that of Crosley. The record player has two knobs: volume and switching mode. You can connect the line-in with CD players or tapes.
The Crosley has pre-mount ceramic cartridge with NP6 needle. You can change the stylus and cartridge as well. Comparing Victrola vs Crosley, these models vary in price but the performance is what we would expect from cheap record players.
They are very lightweight and the handle makes it very easy to carry around. This size and shape makes them some of the best portable record players.
Victrola vs Crosley Record Player with Built-in Speakers
Victrola Wood Metropolitan vs Crosley CR6233D-RE Dansette Bermuda Portable Turntable
Victrola VTA-240B-ESP Crosley CR6233D-RE
Drive system Belt-drive Belt-drive
Speed 33 1/3 , 45, 78 RPM 33 1/3 , 45 RPM
Bluetooth yes yes
Speaker 2-way
8ohms
6w max. power3.5”
8ohm
5x2W
Output RCA out RCA, Headphone jack
Dimension 14.6 in x 6.5 in x 15.4 in 15.25" W x 16.50" D x 26.25" H
Weight 5.5kg 5.4kg (item weight)
Price No products found. Check the latest price on amazon
Uniqueness
Record players with built-in speakers are life-savior. You get a complete package with turntable, Bluetooth, CD player, etc.
Which one performs better?
Let’s dive into Crosley and Victrola Metropolitan review. These two models are quite popular for vinyl lovers. This Victrola Metropolitan player has retro look with modern features. It is a 4-in-1 record player that supports playing from 4 sources: Bluetooth, turntable, radio and source through aux in port.
If you want a small footprint player with no CD or cassette player, you can look into these models. The sound quality is satisfying and might be able to fill small rooms. However, if you expect crisp highs with deep bass, the you will be disappointed.
Victrola vs Crosley comparison shows Victrola Metropolitan is a budget-friendly record player. It can get quite loud which you can use for occasional listening to podcasts or random vinyl. According to some audio enthusiasts, it is expected to sound better replacing the cartridge with BP2ATC B071WMFGHL .
The Crosley record player sound quality is pretty good and it can get quite loud. It is just as we would expect from a basic record player. Along with that, it becomes a nice piece of furniture.
Crosley uses the AT-3600 moving-magnet cartridge which is supposed to deliver warm sound. One drawback of Dansette is, your LPs may suffer from wear and tear.
Feature Analysis:
Crosley record player with speakers and Bluetooth comes with detachable legs. Comparing Victrola vs Crosley, the Crosley Dansette review shows the differences between price, speed, and aesthetics.
Unlike many, the Crosley Dansette supports only two speeds. You can also buy this Crosley record player stand with vinyl storage at a reasonable price. If you want a Crosley 3-speed turntable, you can look into the Crosley CR8005A-BK Cruiser.
Similar to Victrola, the Crosley Dansette Bermuda has a box or suitcase shape design without a handle. Victrola gives you a tight and firm feel with plastic dials. Victrola vs Crosley comparison shows, how Crosley Dansette is an independent record player that sits on its own legs rather than looking for space on a table.
Another difference between the two is that, the Crosley has pitch control knob. The golden radio dial is what I like the most. You can use the Aux in port to connect any device with headphone jack. For this, you need a cable with 3.5mm plug on both end.
Victrola vs Crosley Record player with Bluetooth
Victrola Navigator 8-in-1 Classic Bluetooth Record Player vs Crosley Cruiser Deluxe Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Suitcase Turntable
| Victrola VTA-600B-MAH | Crosley CR8005D-GR | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Belt-drive | Belt-drive |
| Speed | 33-1/3 rpm, 45 rpm and 78 rpm | 33-1/3 rpm, 45 rpm and 78 rpm |
| SNR | >50 | Unknown |
| Connection | Aux In, USB jack, Line out, USB out, Headphone jack | RCA, Headphone jack, Aux In |
| Remote control | Yes | No |
| Dimension | 18.2" x 13.2" x 10". | 13.78" W x 10.24" D x 4.72" H |
| Price | Check the latest price on amazon | Check the latest price on amazon |
Product Uniqueness
In many comparisons, we see Crosley is costlier than Victrola, so if you want an affordable one, you can look into the Crosley CR8005D-GR. What makes the Victrola VTA-600B-MAH Navigator unique is, it has cassette player and a remote control which you will get at similar price range. The Crosley Cruiser CR8005D reviews covers each aspect in details.
Which Recor Player Sounds Better?
Victrola record player with built-in cassette player has a 1-way speaker that consumes 10W maximum. The sound is clean and in most cases room-filling. It is ideal for average-sized bedrooms, dorms, or living rooms.
With several input sources, Victrola is quite versatile which makes it one of the best all-in-one entertainment unit. Victrola VTA-600B-MAH Nostalgic record player has a full sound and it can get quite loud. You can enjoy cassettes, CDs, or Bluetooth for wireless streaming.
You can record files that are MP3 encoded from vinyl, CD, cassette or Bluetooth to the USB flash drive. Crosley Cruiser Deluxe record player has an adjustable pitch with which you can change the frequency of the sound. You will not find it option in Victrola.
With built-in stereo player, Crosley is capable of producing full-range sound and it takes 3W power into each speaker. The sound quality is not room-shaking or powerful as bookshelf speakers.
Rather, you get good sound quality and it could easily fill small to medium sized rooms. If you have spare speakers, you can easily connect them to the speakers for better sound quality. both these models support Bluetooth that works easily up to 33 ft. and Victrola has V 4.2.
Feature Analysis:
Victrola 8-in-1 record player with Bluetooth supports turntable, CD, cassette, radio, Bluetooth, USB player, headphone jack and Aux In. comparing Crosley Cruiser vs Victrola, you can use the Victrola Nostalgic to record from vinyl to computer or PC. This is not available in Crosley.
The Victrola vs Crosley record player with Bluetooth shows another difference. Victrola has a remote control which makes the record player more user-friendly than the Crosley. It has all the essential buttons so you can relax on the couch and control it.
Victrola record player has a decent build quality with a similar box-shaped retro look. You can choose the Victrola 8-in-1 Bluetooth record player in white along with few other colors. The front panel of the record player has 10 buttons where some are options like Pair, Shuffle, Repeat and other 5 are different input sources.
You will also find buttons for play/pause, volume up/down, etc. Crosley Cruiser Deluxe record player doesn’t have any buttons or options on it. Another difference between Victrola and Crosley is, the Crosley has Auto stop feature so newbies who often find it quite a hassle to handle vinyl will find it handy.
In terms of aesthetics, Crosley has 22 pleasant colors which you can choose to go with any room décor. The Crosley record player price for this model is slightly less than Victrola but it also lacks the support for Cassette player and USB port.
These models are simple plug and play solution which you can simply power on, put on vinyl and start using. They are quite delicate so each part, specially the turntable should be handled with care.
Victrola vs Crosley Record Player with Radio
Victrola 50’s Retro Bluetooth Record Player with AM/FM Radio vs Crosley CR704B-GY Musician 3-Speed Turntable with Radio
Victrola 50's V50-200 Crosley CR704B-GY
Type Belt-drive Belt-drive
Speed 33-1/3 rpm, 45 rpm and 78 rpm 33-1/3 rpm, 45 rpm and 78 rpm
SNR >50 Unknown
Connection Aux In, Headphone jack Headphone jack, Aux In
Dimension 14.2" x 13.6" x 6.5" 13.78" W x 10.24" D x 4.72" H
Price Check the latest price on amazon Check the latest price on amazon
Product Uniqueness:
If you are a Crosley lover and want an all-in-one solution, you can choose this model. It has cassette player along with all other standard audio sources. Victrola doesn’t sound bad either.
Which Player Performs Better?
The sound quality of this Crosley record player with cd player quite impressive. You simply get what you pay for. The user manual or the product website doesn’t mention any RCA out where we can connect external speakers. This is similar for the Victrola Bluetooth record player with turntable, cd, & radio.
With Crosley, you can easily use smartphone, MP3 player or cassette along with vinyl records. Comparing Victrola 50’s V50-200 vs Crosley CR704B-GY models, the Victrola has headphone jack which you can use for private listening. So if you think you will often use the player with headphone, you need to go with Victrola.
Victrola and Crosley models both have auto-stop feature which makes it easier to use. Victrola allows you to use the USB for recording on PC. You can use the Audacity software. The Victrola user manual shows detailed picture illustration of configuring the software and using it.
Just like other Victrola models, the built-in speakers can get loud enough to fill small to medium spaces. The sound is neat, clear and quite sharp. It will satisfy you unless you are too picky and want deep bass with immersive surround sound.
In case you feel the speakers sound poor for you, you can try and connect external speakers through the headphone jack. While shopping for Victrola vs Crosley record player accessories, you will find several items like adapters, vinyl record stand, sleeves, wooden record crate, wooden stand with record holder, etc.
Feature Analysis:
Crosley CR704B-GY is a 6-in-1 record player that supports Bluetooth, radio, CD, cassette, Aux In and turntable. Comparing Victrola vs Crosley record player with radio, the Victrola doesn’t have cassette player. Crosley doesn’t support any USB.
The Victrola is available in different colors and the price varies. The Victrola record player cost is slightly lower than Crosley. If you choose the Victrola 50’s retro Bluetooth record player blue, the cost will be slightly lower than the red color model we chose.
In terms of aesthetics, while both models follow old-fashioned look, we preferred the matte finish of the Crosley. However, the Crosley vs Victrola turntable comparison shows, the Victrola has a neat and clean front panel with clearly labelled buttons.
Crosley buttons labelling got camouflaged with the record player body color that will lead you to ‘magnifying glass’ to clearly read it. These models from different record player brands has similarities as well. Like, they both have built-in speaker, Bluetooth, and support 3 speed options.
Best Alternatives:
If you want to think outside the box to explore more, you can do so. Although Victrola and Crosley manufactures some of the best record players, there are other famous brands as well.
Best affordable record player: Byron Statics Vinyl Record Player, 3 Speed Turntable Record Player
Although the Crosley vs Victrola record player reviews discussed about several affordable models, this is another one. It ensures there will be no skipping of tracks and the records will be safe. Like other models, it supports RCA, Aux In. it is also portable. the Bryon record player uses metal tone arm and is designed in such a way that it will minimize resonance.
Best Rated Record Player: Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB
With a slight increase in budget, you can buy this manual Audio-Technica turntable. The die cast aluminium platter with felt mat helps to minimize resonance. Similar to Victrola, you will get the USB output with which you can convert the vinyl files to digital using the Audacity software.
It doesn’t have Bluetooth but you can connect it to external powered speakers. The sound quality is average and the design is very simple and neat.
Best Plug-and-Play Record Player: Vinyl Record Player Bluetooth Turntable
This belt-driven Udreamer turntable has 2x3W built-in speakers along with an independent woofer. You can enjoy warm sound playing audio via Bluetooth and other connections include: USB input, RCA OUT, AUX IN, and headphone jack. We love the wooden aesthetics and it is designed with foot pads to absorb vibration.
With iron body and platter, it has quite a sturdy construction. The auto-stop feature makes it user-friendly. Once you buy it, you will be amazed crisp and crystal sound quality.
Parting Words:
Victrola or Crosley record players are the best all-in-one solution. However, these are ideal for casual listening. if you are to scrutinize the audio quality, these are not for you. Comparing Victrola record player vs Crosley, we prefer the Victrola build quality along with aesthetics.
However, the looks and Crosley record player quality is almost similar. The record players are designed for delicate use so if you rough use it, it might not last long. One common problem of these players is track skipping. In this case, make sure nothing is touching the cartridge or the turntable.
You might choose Crosley over Victrola because each model looks different and has different functions. If you thing Crosley record player with legs will be an excellent addition to the existing furniture, then you can choose that also.
Both these brands give you to choose from several retro and cool colors. These records players have vintage look with modern functions. Most Crosley record players have auto-stop feature along with pitch control which can be adjusted to control the speed of the turntable.
On the other hand, if you want a remote control because it is easier for you, you can choose the Victrola record player over Crosley. They are also cheaper than Crosley.
FAQ:
This FAQ is here to solve your problems with these questions and answers. Let’s find out more about it!
How to change a turntable stylus?
Usually, stylus is supposed to run for 50 hours of use. it may last longer depending on how much you use it and the speed of it. With 78 RPM speed, it is supposed to wear out sooner. If you think the audio sounds different immediately look for a replacement.
Otherwise, it may damage your records. Take a screwdriver place it on the stylus tip. See the point A on the image below, pull it downward as shown. Continuously pull it below and in forward direction.
Then see the point B, place the new stylus (back side first). To lock it, press the C position in the directly above.
How to use the RCA and Aux In ports?
You can use the RCA jack to connect to any additional bookshelf or Bluetooth speakers. Use the red colored plug and insert it to the right channel. For the left one, use the white marked plug.
If you are using the turntable and connect the Aux In, the player will automatically play the Aux In audio source. Use a 3.5mm auxiliary cable to connect the audio source and Aux In of record player.
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